What is the museum’s role in society? How does – and can – the museum function as a civic space? Dr. Anthea Hartig, the first woman director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, sat down with Civics for Life to briefly discuss these and other questions.

The following podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

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Economist Dr. Art Laffer—creator of the famous Laffer Curve and advisor to U.S. presidents including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton—joins the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy for a wide-ranging conversation about the American economy.

From inflation and government spending to monetary policy and long-term growth, Dr. Laffer shares his unique perspective, blending economic analysis with historical insight. Drawing from his time in the Reagan administration, he reflects on the enduring impact of tax cuts and their role in shaping economic growth and national prosperity—lessons that remain relevant today.

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This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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Gerrymandering, according to Webster, is "to divide or arrange (an area) into political units to give special advantages to one group when voting districts are designed to achieve specific political outcomes."

Nick Seabrook, an authority on gerrymandering and constitutional law, discusses his book, One Person, One Vote: A Surprising History of Gerrymandering in America and, just weeks before our nation heads to the polls, breaks down how new voting districts following the 2020 U.S. Census could affect election results for years to come.

The following podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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"This is a film about why you should join a club." So begins the documentary Join or Die, available to stream on Netflix, that follows the work of sociologist Robert Putnam, who famously argued that American civic organizations and engagement were in serious and steady decline and that this would not bode well for the nation. The documentary's co-directors and co-producers (and siblings), Rebecca and Pete Davis, join the O'Connor Institute to discuss their film and why joining a club may be the best way for individuals to improve their communities and country.

This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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From trade wars to rising prices, America’s economic landscape is being reshaped by powerful forces. How do tariffs affect U.S. industry and global standing? With inflation cooling but uncertainty lingering, where are things headed next—and what does it mean for policy and growth? Economist John Cochrane joins the Institute to explore the pressures and policies defining this critical moment for the U.S. economy.

This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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At a time when civic knowledge is in decline, political scientist Jeffrey Sikkenga makes the case that the health of our democracy depends on how—and whether—we teach American principles.

Sikkenga, executive director of the Ashbrook Center, joined the O’Connor Institute to discuss A Republic, If We Can Teach It, which he coauthored with Hoover Institution fellow David Davenport. The book explores the challenges facing civic education today and argues that a strong republic requires citizens who understand and value its constitutional foundations. What role should schools, parents, and institutions play in preparing the next generation for informed, engaged citizenship?

This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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Is democracy in trouble? Many Americans believe so: recent polls consistently rank "threats to democracy" as one of respondents' top concerns. In the new book The Civic Bargain, authors Brook Manville and Josiah Ober look to history for examples of democracies under threat. By examining the ways in which historical democracies confronted their own challenges, the authors are able to distill lessons and principles that can benefit us today.

This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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At a time when many Americans struggle with economic insecurity, sociologist Jessica Calarco offers an exploration of how women have become America’s default social safety net.

Calarco joined the O’Connor Institute to discuss her latest book, Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net. Drawing on extensive research and interviews, she argues that American society relies disproportionately on women’s unpaid and underpaid labor and that this reliance has concealed critical gaps in public policy. What can we learn from women’s experiences about building stronger, fairer support systems for all Americans and strengthening our civic fabric?

This podcast is created by the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute. We offer a platform of civil discourse to allow for disparate views to be discussed and explored.

You can find us at: https://oconnorinstitute.org/

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